Departing Blues youngster Kundai Benyu is reportedly set to join Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.

According to the Scottish Sun the Glasgow giants have fought off previously reported interest from Tottenham, West Ham and Aston Villa to land the Camden-born midfielder with the youth compensation due to Town to be set by a tribunal.

The 19-year-old, who spent a successful spell on loan at Aldershot last season, was offered new terms by the Blues with his contract up this summer but the two parties were unable to agree a deal.

Speaking about Benyu’s situation at the first day of pre-season training on Monday, manager Mick McCarthy said: “He is [out of contract]. He’s free to do, well, he’s not free, but if he goes somewhere there’ll be compensation.”

Asked whether contract talks were still ongoing, the Blues boss added: “Well, he’s not here today, so no.”

After a difficult 2015/16 in which he admitted he had shown a poor attitude, Benyu was allowed to join Tottenham’s U19s for a NextGen tournament in Amsterdam last summer but failed to impress.

Benyu, who was an unused sub for the Town first team but without making it on to the field, subsequently apologised to McCarthy at the start of pre-season training last year and was a regular in the U23s until joining Aldershot on loan in December, where he won rave reviews as he helped the Shots into the Vanarama National League play-offs.

Photo: TWTD

iaintaylorx added 20:11 - Jun 28 If so, good luck to the lad. Word is at it's feet and I don't understand what Mick doesn't see in him!!
1

RobITFC added 20:12 - Jun 28 Another talent slips through our fingers! Sadly it seems the club cannot do much else if his head has been turned by bigger clubs interested in him!
4

Mullet added 20:12 - Jun 28 Good luck to him. He's going to have a hell of a lot more pressure on him there, by passing up the chance to be a star here.
4

wessextractorboy added 20:16 - Jun 28 I never saw that one coming. Good luck to him, looked a good prospect. I hope for his sake he doesn't regret signing a deal with us.
4

Michael11 added 20:18 - Jun 28 Think this will be one that comes back to bite us. Hopefully get good compensation and hefty clauses if he goes on to do well. It appears that once you're in McCarthy's bad books, there's no going back.
4

prebbs007 added 20:22 - Jun 28 It seems like Dino has no patience with precocious youngsters. It's his way or the highway and another talent leaves our club for peanuts. Can only hope this means Celtic have less interest in McGinn and we can go back in and get him. Still think best signing we could make is a new manager but given up on that now unfortunately COYB
-6

Nazemariner added 20:22 - Jun 28 Why would he sign a contract with us, when he has prestigious clubs vying for his signature. A real shame, because he looked a prospect. That said we have further prospects in Bishop and Dozzell. Plus, a little birdy tells me that Nydam is one for the future.
3

topguy added 20:22 - Jun 28 I'm going to be fair with MM, if the lad doesn't turn up for pre season training hes made his feelings clear, he was offered a deal he doesn't want to carry on, cant blame the manager benyu is looking like a lot of young lads for more money and has a bit of an attitude, so lets get the compensation and move on, when hes sat on Celtics stands cause he will never make the team, he will think where would he play more, I'm sure he might have featured this term, but he wants to do sod all for more money, not the kind of player for us to be fair, a prima donna, they don't work in the hard leagues of the championship.

26

Terry_Nutkins added 20:50 - Jun 28 Questionable attitude with lots of talent. Mick wanted to keep him hence offered a deal. Cant force him and he has a better offer from a bigger club. Not a lot we or the club could do on this which is why the compensation rules exist! Frustrating but lets move in and not point fingers if blame where there isnt a lot.
12

WicklowBlue added 21:03 - Jun 28 Good luck to him a talented youngster by all accounts. Goes to show some on here read what they want to see and ignore the rest. The lad obviously has notions above his station or is getting bad advice. As mentioned by Phil he hasnt put the work in agreed he had a poor attitude and that is a no no with Mick. Good luck to him but I want to see our youngsters working hard to get into the first XI and developing their game. Can see him becoming another like Cameron Stewart and being loaned out back into the Championship or lower in the next 2 seasons. I don't blame Mick for this.

7

OwainG1992 added 21:06 - Jun 28 It's a shame he hasn't pushed on for us as we had hoped. I don't blame Mick regarding this. My only worry is in 2 or 3 years time he goes to the prem for 10/15 mill.
1

runaround added 21:09 - Jun 28 Not a surprise he turned us down with likes of Celtic after him. I get the feeling he wouldn't have had a chance here whilst Mick was in charge following the previous problems they had. Although Mick said they made up he doesn't tend to trust players who he has had bust ups with. Shame we will not get to see Benyu flourish in a town shirt
2

alfromcol added 21:16 - Jun 28 He probably didn't turn up for pre-season training as he had had a much better offer AND he didn't have to face Mick with a "yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir". More talent slipped through the net! Will watch him with interest.
-1

Mark added 21:17 - Jun 28 Maybe it is the right decision to let him go, but it feels strange to see a youngster leave for Celtic and to be linked to big clubs when we have not seen him play ourselves. If Benyu leaves and then we let Emmanuel out on loan, it will not feel like we are giving our academy players a chance.
1

cranky_old_tractor added 21:40 - Jun 28 Why is it that other clubs see our talent and yet MM et al does not? Given the recent debate about football finances, a championship side like ours should at least try to make money on such talent? yes/no? Of course, we do not know all circumstances here but given the fall in season tickets and the debate as to whether or not ME is releasing extra money, what is ITFC management doing? Don't get me wrong, I am delighted with recent activity but letting young talent go like this leaves me wondering about my beloved club!

-1

cranky_old_tractor added 21:41 - Jun 28 Good luck Benyu
-3

Wickets added 21:52 - Jun 28 I do know that he had become rather disallusioned with what he saw as his lack of opptunity at Town but up untill a couple of weeks ago he was going to sign a new contract with us! not sure what has happend. Hope he has made the right choice.
2

Popeye added 22:37 - Jun 28 Mick McCarthy allowed the midfielder to feature for Tottenham's Under-19s at the NextGen Series tournament in Amsterdam last summer. Asked at that time whether Benyu had a future at Town, the Blues boss replied: “That's up to him with his attitude and his approach to football and being here. It's down to him, he's got ability.” Benyu subsequently admitted: “It's my fault really. I had an attitude problem which put the gaffer off using me but I've apologised now and we're on good terms again. “I'm out of contract at the end of the season but hopefully at some point in the season I'll be able to renew here for another couple of years. “Hopefully if I keep playing well then it will persuade him to offer me something.”

1

jpring89 added 22:48 - Jun 28 A step down in my opinion but good luck.
0

runningout added 23:25 - Jun 28 We didn't exactly make him feel at home
-1

Guthrum added 00:05 - Jun 29 Hang on. We haven't sold him, or forced him out. He's decided not to renew after his contract ran out. This is nothing to do with McCarthy, except insofar as - like almost any other top level manager - he doesn't put up with poor attitude or players not trying their hardest. If Benyu thinks it's going to be an easier ride under Brendan Rodgers, he's in for a shock. If he thinks his talents are above Ipswich, then good luck to him and we shall see ...

5

BrettenhamBlue added 00:15 - Jun 29 His decision at the end of the day, little we could do about it.
2

ArnieM added 07:18 - Jun 29 So he's chosen SPL eh. Not much ambition other than the usual £££ signs it seems. Good luck to him.
0

TractorRoyNo1 added 07:30 - Jun 29 I read compensation is less to a "foreign" country and he can then move back to English club in 6 months after a fall out with Brendan.
0

Ferguson added 09:03 - Jun 29 One out, one more in ?
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls